Media echoing and social networking device and method

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for echoing media via a mobile device are disclosed herein. According to an embodiment, the method can include displaying automatically to a user, on the mobile device, a list of one or more respective identifiers of one or more other users experiencing respective media within a selectable geographic area. The user is then allowed to select whether to play one or more of the respective media on the mobile device, and can connect with the one or more other users via a social networking site. As a result, the user can network with previously unknown people, based on a common taste in music or other media, for example, as well as a geographic location.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of, and is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 16/402,435 (U.S. Pub 2019-0261143A1) filedMay 3, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15,728,228 (U.S. Pub 2018/0035270A1 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,292,022)filed Oct. 9, 2017, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/355,265 (U.S. Pub. 2017/0070872 issued as U.S.Pat. No. 9,788,180), filed Nov. 18, 2016, and Ser. No. 13/454,546 (U.S.Pub. 2013/0282809 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,501,760), filed Apr. 24,2012, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by referencein their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This relates generally to media echoing and social networking methodsand devices, for use with mobile systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Existing media providers, such as Pandora®, Google Play and Spotify,Ltd., allow listeners to wirelessly stream music on mobile devices. Inthe case of Spotify, Ltd., for example, a user can choose to display hisor her music selections on social networking websites, such asFacebook®, and can instantly share music with his or her Facebook“friends” who also subscribe to the media provider.

However, the existing media providers fail to support a mechanism forallowing a user to share, or echo, music, or otherwise connect to otherusers, who are not currently “friends” via social networking. That is,the existing technology lacks the ability to allow users to establishsocial interactions with strangers within a predetermined, selectablegeographic area, based on a shared interest in chosen media.

Therefore, there exists a need for methods and systems capable ofallowing a user to designate a geographic area within which a list ofidentifiers of other users playing media can be displayed on a user'sdevice, such that the user can select to play (e.g., stream), the samemedia as one or more of the listed other users. Accordingly, the usercan network with previously unknown people, based on a common taste inmusic, for example.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to solving one or moreof the problems presented in the prior art, described above, as well asproviding additional features that will become readily apparent byreference to the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

One embodiment is directed to a method of echoing media via a mobiledevice. The method can include displaying automatically to a user, onthe mobile device, a list of one or more respective identifiers of oneor more other users experiencing respective media within a selectablegeographic area; and allowing the user to select whether to play one ormore of the respective media on the mobile device.

Another embodiment is directed to an apparatus for echoing media. Theapparatus includes a display configured to display automatically to auser, on a mobile device, a list of one or more respective identifiersof one or more other users experiencing respective media within ageographic area defined by the user; and a section unit configured toallow the user to select whether to play one or more of the respectivemedia on the mobile device.

Yet another embodiment is directed to a system configured to echo mediaon a mobile device. The system includes a positioning unit configured todetermine respective distances of a plurality of mobile device, withrespect to a first mobile device; a processor configured to compare thedistances between each of the plurality of mobile devices and the firstmobile device to a preselected distance selected by a first user of thefirst mobile device; and transmitter configured to transmit, to thefirst mobile device, a list of one or more other of the plurality ofmobile devices, automatically when any one of the one or more other ofthe plurality of mobile devices moves within the preselected distanceform the first mobile device used by the first user. According tocertain embodiments, the list includes personalized and reconfigurableidentifiers, respectively, of each user of the one or more other of theplurality of mobile devices that moves within the preselected distance,and the list includes respective media currently being streamed from acentralized server by each user of the one or more other of theplurality of mobile devices that moves within the preselected distance.The system further includes a display unit configured to displayautomatically, to the first user, the list such that the first userselects whether to stream one or more of the respective media from thecentralized server; and a transmitter configured to transmit anindication to the centralized server indicating that the first user hasselected to stream one or more of the respective media. According tocertain embodiments, the centralized server is further configured toindicate to at least one of the one or more other of the plurality ofmobile devices that the first user has selected to stream one or more ofthe respective media. The indication from the centralized server caninclude a personalized identifier designated by the first user.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and are intended toprovide further explanation of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure, in accordance with one or more variousembodiments, is described in detail with reference to the followingFigures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only andmerely depict exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. These drawingsare provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the disclosureand should not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, orapplicability of the disclosure. It should be noted that for clarity andease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary operating environment including wirelessmobile devices, according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary communication system including a mobiledevice and a base station, according to various embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary mobile device displaying variousfeatures of the present technology, according to various embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary mobile device displaying variousfeatures of the present technology, according to various embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description of embodiments, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which it is shownby way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention canbe practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments can be usedand structural changes can be made without departing from the scope ofthe disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile radio channel operating environment,according to one embodiment of the present invention. The mobile radiochannel operating environment may include a base station (BS) 102, oneor more mobile stations (also referred to as MS, mobile device, or thelike) 100, and global positioning system (GPS) satellites 120. Asdescribed in further detail below, the respective locations of themobile devices 100 can be determined based on GPS satellites 120 orother known mechanisms and systems for detecting relative proximities ofmobile devices 100, performed by hardware and software within mobiledevices 100 themselves.

The exemplary mobile station 100 in FIG. 1 is a mobile phone; however,alternately, mobile station 100 may be an automobile, MP3 player orother similar portable device. According to some embodiments, mobilestation 100 may be a personal wireless computer such as a wirelessnotebook computer, a wireless palmtop computer, tablet, or other mobilecomputer devices. Similarly, a mobile station 100 can include virtualreality (VR)-style goggles or glasses, which may or may not beconfigured to incorporate a separate wireless device. For example, theVR goggles could use the screen and/or the GPS functionality of theseparate wireless device in order to be worn by a user and display aVR-type presentation to the user. Of course, various configurations maybe implemented within the scope of the present disclosure.

The base station 102 can be a centralized server unit having a memorymodule, processor module and transceiver module, configured to store anddistribute media to mobile stations 100. According to an embodiment,base station 102 can be another mobile device 100, as would beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Mobile stations 100 caninclude any conventional GPS receiver modules, which are not depicted.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary wireless communication system for transmittingand receiving data between mobile station 100 and base station 102, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The mechanismmay include components and elements configured to support known orconventional operating features that need not be described in detailherein. This system generally comprises a base station 102 with a basestation transceiver module 202, a base station antenna 206, a basestation processor module 216 and a base station memory module 218.System 200 generally comprises a mobile station 100 with a mobilestation transceiver module 208, a mobile station antenna 212, a mobilestation memory module 220, a mobile station processor module 222, and anetwork communication module 226. Of course both BS 102 and MS 100 mayinclude additional or alternative hardware and software modules withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure, as would be apparentto one of ordinary skill in the art.

Furthermore, these and other elements of the system may beinterconnected together using a data communication bus (e.g., 228, 230),or any suitable interconnection arrangement. Such interconnectionfacilitates communication between the various elements of the wirelesssystem. Those skilled in the art will understand that the variousillustrative blocks, modules, circuits, and processing logic describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedin hardware, computer-readable software, firmware, or any practicalcombination thereof. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability andcompatibility of hardware, firmware, and software, various illustrativecomponents, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps are described generallyin terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality isimplemented as hardware, firmware, or software depends upon theparticular application and design constraints imposed on the overallsystem. Those familiar with the concepts described herein may implementsuch functionality in a suitable manner for each particular application,but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing adeparture from the scope of the present invention.

In the exemplary system, the base station transceiver 202 and the mobilestation transceiver 208 each comprise a transmitter module and areceiver module (not shown). Additionally, although not shown in thisfigure, those skilled in the art will recognize that a transmitter maytransmit to more than one receiver, and that multiple transmitters maytransmit to the same receiver.

The mobile station transceiver 208 and the base station transceiver 202are configured to communicate via a wireless data communication link214. The mobile station transceiver 208 and the base station transceiver202 cooperate with a suitably configured RF antenna arrangement 206/212that can support a particular wireless communication protocol andmodulation scheme. In the exemplary embodiment, the mobile stationtransceiver 208 and the base station transceiver 202 can be configuredto support industry standards such as the Third or Fourth GenerationPartnership Project Long Term Evolution (3GPP or 4GPP LTE), TimeDivision-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA), Wi-Fi,and the like. The mobile station transceiver 208 and the base stationtransceiver 202 may be configured to support alternate, or additional,wireless data communication protocols, including future variations ofIEEE 802.16, such as 802.16e, 802.16m, and so on.

Processor modules 216/222 may be implemented, or realized, with ageneral purpose processor, a content addressable memory, a digitalsignal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a fieldprogrammable gate array, any suitable programmable logic device,discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof, designed to perform the functions described herein.In this manner, a processor may be realized as a microprocessor, acontroller, a microcontroller, a state machine, or the like. A processormay also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., acombination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, aplurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunctionwith a digital signal processor core, or any other such configuration.In practical embodiments the processing logic may be resident in thebase station and/or may be part of a network architecture thatcommunicates with the base station transceiver 202.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with theembodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, infirmware, in a software module executed by processor modules 216/222, orin any practical combination thereof. A software module may reside inmemory modules 218/220, which may be realized as RAM memory, flashmemory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk,a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known inthe art. In this regard, memory modules 218/220 may be coupled to theprocessor modules 218/222 respectively such that the processors modules216/220 can read information from, and write information to, memorymodules 618/620. As an example, processor module 216, and memory modules218, processor module 222, and memory module 220 may reside in theirrespective ASICs. The memory modules 218/220 may also be integrated intothe processor modules 216/220. In an embodiment, the memory module218/220 may include a cache memory for storing temporary variables orother intermediate information during execution of instructions to beexecuted by processor modules 216/222. Memory modules 218/220 may alsoinclude non-volatile memory for storing instructions to be executed bythe processor modules 216/220.

Memory modules 218/220 may include a frame structure database (notshown) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.Frame structure parameter databases may be configured to store,maintain, and provide data as needed to support the functionality ofsystem 200 in the manner described below. Moreover, a frame structuredatabase may be a local database coupled to the processors 216/222, ormay be a remote database, for example, a central network database, andthe like. A frame structure database may be configured to maintain,without limitation, frame structure parameters as explained below. Inthis manner, a frame structure database may include a lookup table forpurposes of storing frame structure parameters.

The network communication module 226 generally represents the hardware,software, firmware, processing logic, and/or other components of thesystem that enable bi-directional communication between base stationtransceiver 202, and network components to which the base stationtransceiver 202 is connected. For example, network communication module226 may be configured to support internet or Wi-Fi traffic. In a typicaldeployment, without limitation, network communication module 226provides an 802.3 Ethernet interface such that base station transceiver202 can communicate with a conventional Ethernet based computer network.In this manner, the network communication module 226 may include aphysical interface for connection to the computer network (e.g., MobileSwitching Center (MSC)).

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary mobile device 100, according to an embodimentof the present disclosure. For exemplary purposes, the mobile device 100is depicted as a wireless telephone; however, any mobile device may beincorporated without departing from the scope of the invention. Forexample, according to an embodiment, the mobile device 100 can be anon-board computing system within an automobile. As shown in FIG. 3, alist is displayed in display area 310, which includes identifiers ofthree other mobile device 100 users who are currently playing media andare within a preselected geographic area selected by the user of thedepicted mobile device 100.

According to certain embodiments, GPS satellites 120 can provide anexact position to each mobile device 100, which in turn transmit theirrespective positions to a centralized server (e.g., base station 102).The centralized server can also store the preselected geographic areadetermined by the user (e.g., a radius of 100 yards), and can comparethe distances between the depicted mobile device 100 and other mobiledevices 100 who are playing media and are logged on to a particularwebsite or application, for example. If any of the other mobile devices100 are logged on and within the user's defined area, then thecentralized server can automatically incorporate the identifiers of theusers of those other mobile devices 100 into the list displayed indisplay area 310 of the depicted mobile device 100. The user of thedepicted mobile device 100 can change the desired geographic area withinwhich to locate other users, via the “CHANGE AREA” icon 320, which canallow the user to customize the searchable area.

In this exemplary scenario, three other mobile devices have beendetermined to be within the bounds set by the user of the depictedmobile device 100 (e.g., “Blond with Red Sweatshirt,” 312 “Silver PickupTruck,” 314 and “Jill S.” 316). The identifiers are respectivelydesignated by each of the users of the mobile devices 100. Of course,one of ordinary skill in the art would realize that the users couldchange their respective identifiers at any time (e.g., via their own“OPTIONS” icon 330), depending on what car they are driving, where theyare located, what they are wearing, their appearance, a nickname, or anyother identifying features they wish to show up on the other users'lists.

According to one embodiment, the list can include an identifier of whattype of media is being experienced by the respective other users (e.g.,“Jill S.” 316 is listening to song “ABC” by Band 2). Alternatively, theother users may experience audio and/or video via YouTube, for example,like “Silver Pickup Truck” 314. The user of the depicted mobile device100 can select to play (or echo) any of the media that is beingexperienced by the other users on the list.

According to the depicted example, the user can select a “PLAY” icon,which will transmit a signal to the centralized server to requeststreaming of the identified media. The streaming can begin from thestart of the particular song or video, for example, or can begin at amiddle point in the song or video where the identified other user iscurrently at in real time.

In the depicted example, the number of times other users who areidentified on the list have been “echoed” (i.e., the number of timesother users have decided to experience the same media that they arecurrently experiencing) can be provided to the user of the depictedmobile device 100. In this case, “Jill S.” 316 is identified as having75 echoes in real time (i.e., 75 other users have decided to experiencewhat “Jill S.” is currently experiencing at that time). Any otherexperience indication(s) or indicator(s) or identifier(s) (e.g., pointsand/or levels and/or color codes and/or any other visual or audibleindication) could be displayed or played for each user as well. In sucha case, each user could have an overall experience total displayed,which may indicate how active the user has been on the application inthe past (e.g., not currently in real time, but a total of overall usageor overall media experienced cumulatively). Any experience indicationcould be altered in real time, based on real-time activity as the mediaoriginator or echoing other users. An algorithm stored at a server, forexample, could be implemented to determine what experienceindication/identifier should be displayed, depending on the amount andtype of usage of the application.

According to certain embodiments, predetermined geographic areas can beset at a central server, or obtained and gathered from any number ofservers (e.g., selected by any user or any network administrator), suchthat the predetermined geographic areas can be set to provide variousactivities or other options to the user of the mobile device 100 whenmobile device 100 arrives within the predetermined geographic area. Or,a user can select a geographic area, including a selectable radius fromthe user's mobile device, for example, so that another user can interactwith the user only within the user's selected radius. In such a case,the need for presetting an area or distance at a centralized server isunnecessary. A desired geographic area could be determined by user'sbeing capable of accessing a particular cellular base station forexample. In such a case, any mobile device accessing a particular basestation could be considered acceptably within the selected geographicarea, according to one embodiment. In such an embodiment, processingcircuitry, communicatively coupled to memory, would be capable ofaccessing user data from any particular base station in order todetermine which user devices are served thereby.

According to an example, when a mobile device 100 is within apredetermined distance (e.g., set at the central server) from apredetermined geographic location, the user of mobile device 100 may besee a display on mobile device 100 showing an option to purchase orotherwise obtain (e.g., trade) digital media to be streamed ordownloaded to mobile device 100. For example, users may be determined tobe within a predetermined geographic area (or even at a particulargeographic location) if their respective devices are within apredetermined threshold distance (e.g., a 50′ radius) from a virtualmarker, such as predetermined geographic coordinates, or any othermanner of assigning a marker to any particular location. Mobile device100 may provide a visual or audio indication thereon to indicate wheresuch a predetermined geographic area is (e.g., a station provided on amap, via augmented or virtual reality, or any visual or audibleindication). A predetermined geographic locations could be any point ofinterest or establishment, like a physical store, place of business,home or other landmarks, according to various embodiments, which couldbe indicated to the user when the user searches geographic areas on themobile device 100 (e.g., zooming in or out on a map to search formarkers or other indications of such a predetermined geographic area, orsimply moves into a new geographic area with establishments of points ofinterests at designated geographic locations). In other words, ageographic area could be an area selectable by any user which couldinclude one or more particular geographic locations of interest.

According to an embodiment, when two or more users are simultaneously ator within a predetermined geographic location or area, as determined bythe central server, for example, the two or more users may be allowedand able to transfer and receive digital media from each other. Such atransfer of media could be device-to-device, or via a central serversystem (including one or more servers and/or processors). Such atransfer of digital media could be performed by any mechanisms, as wouldbe apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. The digital media couldbe then stored on each mobile device 100 (or one or the other), or savedon a centralized memory (e.g., cloud storage) for streaming and/ordownloading later.

Such digital media to be transferred and/or received can include digitalcoupons, tradable pictures (e.g., drawings, photos, etc.), videos or anyother type of media. According to one embodiment, if a user wasdetermined to be within a participating store, for example, the mobiledevice 100 of the user could be automatically sent a digital coupon orother advertisement, which could relate to the store's business forexample. The digital media could be pre-stored on a centralizedserver/memory and transmitted to the mobile device 100, or could bestored at a memory at the store and transmitted to mobile device 100directly (device-to-device) or via a centralized server. Further, theuser could be prompted to purchase physical or virtual items upon beingdetermined to be at the geographic location.

It should be appreciated that various revenue streams could be realizedusing the features described herein. For example, a participating storeat a predetermined physical location could pay a fee or subscription inorder to have a virtual marker located at its physical location, inorder to attract users to their physical location. Various otheradvertisement revenues could be generated by displaying advertisementsdependent upon the determined geographic location of the user of mobiledevice 100. Moreover, the physical store or any online store couldgenerate revenue by offering add-on purchases (either additional digitalmedia and/or actual items at the store) for sale to the user. Further,various conventional techniques could be used in order to determinewhich advertisements or other digital content to push to the user, andultimately displayed on the mobile device, based on various othercriteria (e.g., user data or other user preferences), to determine whatdigital media to push to the user. Revenue could be generated by eachother user experiencing media based on a number of echoes their mediahas generated in real time, if the user is the creator of the media, forexample, as in the case where the user experiencing media is theoriginator of said media via YouTube Live, for example.

Of course, the layout of the features and information presented on thelist is merely one example, and is not intended to limit the scope ofthe disclosure in any way. One of ordinary skill in the art wouldrealize that various additional information and combinations thereofcould be depicted in various ways. Moreover, a touchscreen cellularphone is depicted with icons that can execute various functions via theuser's touch. However, any display device could be implemented with anytype of scroll, highlight and/or selection mechanisms in conventionalmobile devices.

Furthermore, it is not necessary for GPS satellites to be utilized inobtaining exact coordinates of each mobile device 100. Using knowntechniques of detecting the presence of other mobile devices within adefined radius, each mobile device 100 could determine on its own thatanother mobile device 100 is within an acceptable range. That is, itwould not be necessary for the centralized server to make the comparisonbetween the respective distances and the desired area preselected by theuser of the mobile device 100. Within certain distances, mobile devices100 could identify themselves are concurrently running an echoingapplication or logged on to a particular website, and could transferidentifiers and media information automatically via any conventionaltechnique, such as Bluetooth®, etc. Then, if the user of the mobiledevice 100 depicted in FIG. 3 decided to select one or more media on thelist to play, a signal would be transmitted to the centralized serverrequesting to stream the particular media.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary mobile device 100, according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. In the depicted embodiment, display area 310shows a layout of the screen if the user decides to select identifier“Jill S.” 316 for additional options, but does not immediately decide toecho the media by selecting “PLAY.” In FIG. 4, display area 310 showsthe precise distance that between “Jill S.” and the depicted mobiledevice 100 (e.g., 100 ft.). The exemplary display area provides anoption for the user to play the media (i.e., “PLAY” 400) or purchase thesong, for example (i.e., “PURCHASE” 402). If the user selects topurchase the media, the mobile device 100 can automatically direct theuser to a media distributer, such as iTunes, Amazon, etc.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the user of the depicted mobiledevice 100 can select “LINK REQUEST” 410, which can send a signal to thecentralized server, instructing the centralized server to send a friendrequest, for example, for connecting via social networking (e.g., afriend request via Facebook for Google+, or any other social networkingoutlet). Of course, it is possible that the request can be sent directlyto the user of the other device (i.e., “Jill S.”) directly, if contactinformation is exchanged beforehand, using any conventional technique.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the user of the depicted mobiledevice 100 can select “SEND I.D.” 420, which can send a signal to thecentralized server, instructing the centralized server to send anidentification message to the mobile device of one or more of the otherusers, which was echoed by the depicted mobile device 100. Of course,the user of the depicted mobile device 100 can designate and personalizeany identifier of his or her choosing to be displayed to the user of theechoed device. In this manner, the user of the echoed device can becomeaware that another user has echoed the media being played on his or herdevice, and can receive an identifier of the user who has echoed themedia.

In accordance with the present disclosure, a user may be allowed todesignate a geographic area within which a list of identifiers of otherusers playing media can be displayed on a user's device, such that theuser can select to play (e.g., stream), the same media as one or more ofthe listed other users (a.k.a. echo). Therefore, as one exemplaryadvantage to embodiments described herein, the user can network withpreviously unknown people, based on a common taste in music or othermedia, for example, as well as a geographic location.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described above, itshould be understood that they have been presented by way of exampleonly, and not by way of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams maydepict an example architectural or other configuration for thedisclosure, which is done to aid in understanding the features andfunctionality that can be included in the disclosure. The disclosure isnot restricted to the illustrated example architectures orconfigurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternativearchitectures and configurations. Additionally, although the disclosureis described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments andimplementations, it should be understood that the various features andfunctionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments arenot limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment withwhich they are described. They instead can be applied alone or in somecombination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosure,whether or not such embodiments are described, and whether or not suchfeatures are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thusthe breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited byany of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

In this document, the terms “computer program product”,“computer-readable medium”, and the like, may be used generally to referto media such as, memory storage devices, or storage unit. These, andother forms of computer-readable media, may be involved in storing oneor more instructions for use by processor to cause the processor toperform specified operations. Such instructions, generally referred toas “computer program code” (which may be grouped in the form of computerprograms or other groupings), when executed, enable the computingsystem.

It will be appreciated that, for clarity purposes, the above descriptionhas described embodiments of the invention with reference to differentfunctional units and processors. However, it will be apparent that anysuitable distribution of functionality between different functionalunits, processors or domains may be used without detracting from theinvention. For example, functionality illustrated to be performed byseparate processors or controllers may be performed by the sameprocessor or controller. Hence, references to specific functional unitsare only to be seen as references to suitable means for providing thedescribed functionality, rather than indicative of a strict logical orphysical structure or organization.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” shouldbe read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term“example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item indiscussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and adjectivessuch as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known”,and terms of similar meaning, should not be construed as limiting theitem described to a given time period, or to an item available as of agiven time. But instead these terms should be read to encompassconventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may beavailable, known now, or at any time in the future. Likewise, a group ofitems linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiringthat each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, butrather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise.Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should notbe read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rathershould also be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise.Furthermore, although items, elements or components of the disclosuremay be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplatedto be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular isexplicitly stated. The presence of broadening words and phrases such as“one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to”, or other like phrasesin some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case isintended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may beabsent.

Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means,elements or method steps may be implemented by, for example, a singleunit or processing logic element. Additionally, although individualfeatures may be included in different claims, these may possibly beadvantageously combined. The inclusion in different claims does notimply that a combination of features is not feasible and/oradvantageous. Also, the inclusion of a feature in one category of claimsdoes not imply a limitation to this category, but rather the feature maybe equally applicable to other claim categories, as appropriate.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: displaying to a user, on amobile device, an indication of whether one or more other users areexperiencing respective media within a selectable geographic area;displaying automatically to the user at least one number corresponding,respectively, to at least one of the one or more other users, whereinthe number is alterable at least in part after one decides to experiencerespective media in real time while any of the respective at least oneof the one or more other users currently experiences the respectivemedia, wherein the number is displayed concurrently with at least onerespective identifier related to the at least one or more other usersdetermined to be within the selectable geographic area; allowing theuser to select whether to experience one or more of the respective mediaon the mobile device; and causing a processor to transmit a signal to asecond user to indicate to the second user that the user of the mobiledevice selected to experience the media being experienced by the seconduser, wherein when the user selects to experience one or more of therespective media on the mobile device, the respective media isexperienced such that the respective media is synchronized in real timewith the respective media experienced by the second user.
 2. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: providing an option to request aconnection with one or more of the one or more other users via a socialnetworking site.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective mediainitiated by the second user is previously stored on a server beforebeing initiated.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:displaying one or more advertisements on the mobile device of the useror the one or more other users.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein theone or more advertisements are related to one or more geographiclocations or at least one establishment within a set distance from theone or more geographic locations.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein themobile device is able to be incorporated as part of a virtual realityviewing device.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of anindication of one or more geographic locations or the respectiveidentifiers are provided in order of their distance from the mobiledevice.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: allowing the userto purchase a good or service at one or more displayed geographiclocations using the mobile device.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein oneor more geographic locations are displayed in an order of their distancefrom the mobile device.
 10. A mobile device, comprising: a display todisplay to a user, on the mobile device, an indication of whether one ormore other users are experiencing respective media within a selectablegeographic area, where the display further displays automatically to theuser at least one number corresponding, respectively, to at least one ofthe one or more other users, wherein the number is alterable at least inpart after one decides to experience respective media in real time whileany of the respective at least one of the one or more other userscurrently experiences the respective media, wherein the number isdisplayed concurrently with at least one respective identifier relatedto the at least one or more other users determined to be within theselectable geographic area, and the display further displays a iconconfigured to allow the user to select whether to experience one or moreof the respective media on the mobile device; and a processorcommunicatively coupled to a transmitter to transmit a signal to asecond user to indicate to the second user that the user of the mobiledevice selected to experience the media being experienced by the seconduser, wherein when the user selects to experience one or more of therespective media on the mobile device, the respective media isexperienced such that the respective media is synchronized in real timewith the respective media experienced by the second user.
 11. The mobiledevice of claim 10, wherein the respective media initiated by the seconduser is previously stored on a server before being initiated.
 12. Themobile device of claim 10, wherein the display further displays one ormore advertisements on the mobile device of the user or the one or moreother users.
 13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the one or moreadvertisements are related to one or more geographic locations or atleast one establishment within a set distance from the one or moregeographic locations.
 14. The mobile device of claim 10 wherein themobile device is able to be incorporated as part of a virtual realityviewing device.
 15. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein at least oneof an indication of one or more geographic locations or the respectiveidentifiers are provided in order of their distance from the mobiledevice.
 16. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the display furtherdisplays one or more icons, when selected by the user, allowing the userto conduct a business transaction at one or more displayed geographiclocations using the mobile device.
 17. A server including anon-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions thereonfor, when executed by one or more processors, causing a mobile deviceto: display to a user, on the mobile device, an indication of whetherone or more other users are experiencing respective media within aselectable geographic area; display automatically to the user at leastone number corresponding, respectively, to at least one of the one ormore other users, wherein the number is alterable at least in part afterone decides to experience respective media in real time while any of therespective at least one of the one or more other users currentlyexperiences the respective media, wherein the number is displayedconcurrently with at least one respective identifier related to the atleast one or more other users determined to be within the selectablegeographic area; allow the user to select whether to experience one ormore of the respective media on the mobile device; and cause a processorto transmit a signal to a second user to indicate to the second userthat the user of the mobile device selected to experience the mediabeing experienced by the second user, wherein when the user selects toexperience one or more of the respective media on the mobile device, therespective media is experienced such that the respective media issynchronized in real time with the respective media experienced by thesecond user.
 18. The server of claim 17, wherein the respective mediainitiated by the second user is previously stored on at least one serverbefore being initiated.
 19. The server of claim 18, further causing oneor more advertisements to be displayed on the mobile device of the useror the one or more other users.
 20. The server of claim 19, wherein theone or more advertisements are related to one or more geographiclocations or at least one establishment within a set distance from theone or more geographic locations.